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Traditional Food And Drinks Of The Maldives

As an island with a strong Indian, Sri Lankan and Arabic influence, the picturesque islands of The Maldives are a culinary paradise, with fresh fish and curry dominating the menus of the countless luxury resorts in these tropical islands.

Here we take a look at some of the most popular dishes of the Maldives, ideal if you’re preparing for holiday or simply planning to surprise friends with an alternative to the traditional dinner party.

Fish Dishes

Being an island nation fish is readily available and accounts for the majority of Maldivian specialities, Particular favourites include Skipjack Tuna, Mushimas, Kuruma and Fiyala, all of which are used in the same way and boiled before the larger fish are used to make curries and soups while the smaller pieces are dried and used as ingredients in snacks.

Garudhiya

A traditional Maldivian dish, Garudhiya consists of fresh tuna soup cooked with hot chillies and fresh onion. Be warned that this dish, like so many others in the Maldives, can be very spicy!

Staple Foods

As with a number of Indian and Sri Lankan cultures rice is a staple part of the Maldivian diet and is traditionally boiled or ground into flour.

Breadfruit (traditionally served boiled), Screwpine (eaten raw) and tapioca are also popular dietary staples of the islands.

A Maldivian Breakfast

Mas Huni

A traditional breakfast in The Maldives, Mas Huni consists of smoked fish which is shredded and garnished with coconut, lemon and onions.

Roshi & Mashuni

Another breakfast favourite of the Maldivian people is Roshi bread with Mashuni, a fish curry cooked with chillies, spices and shavings of coconut

Traditional Maldivian Snacks

Gulha

Normally taken with tea Gulha is a savoury snack consisting of fried fish balls covered with flour or rice paste

Kulhi Boakibaa

Another savoury snack Kulhi Boakibaa is a rice pudding type dish traditionally cooked over a fire.

Bajiyaa

A quick snack consisting of fried fish, coconut, hot chillies and an abundance of spices… another particularly hot Maldivian delicacy

Foni Boakibaa

Foni Boakibaa is similar to Kulhi Boakibaa but, in contrast to its savoury cousin, has a far sweeter taste and is baked to make a rice pudding cake.

What do drink?

Now that we’ve whet your appetite with some delicious Maldivian food we now need to look at what to wash it down with.

Being a strict Muslim country alcohol is scarcely available to the locals
(however it is available in holiday resorts), as such Raa, made with toddy from palm trees and left to ferment, is the closest to an alcoholic beverage a native Maldivian will come across.

About the Author: Amy Labbadia is an experienced global traveller who has visited over 100 countries. He currently writes for Wanderforth, a tour operator specialising in holidays to the Maldives.